What do I want from a sketchbook ?

As a watercolourist my main concern is the quality of the paper. For my purposes, it should not be too thin and it should not cockle when water is applied to it. Neither should it bleed through to the other side. In short, I am looking for a reasonable watercolour paper rather than a cartridge paper.

The sketchbook should also be of a manageable size. If it is never likely to leave the studio then size doesn't matter, but for a sketchbook which is to be taken on location however near or far afield, it must not be too heavy or bulky and ideally should easily be held in one hand when in use. As I tend to paint standing up and there is not always a convenient wall to rest the book on, I want to be assured it will not droop at the edges when I am trying to apply a wash.

If such a sketchbook existed it would be a bonus if it looked good - after all,  it will be a faithful companion for some time, and a friend for ever.

So imagine my delight when I discovered the Stillman & Birn softback sketchbook in their "Beta" series.It has exactly what I long for, the cold press/NOT paper being 270gsm which makes it substantial enough to prevent drooping, and the binding makes it capable of laying flat enabling a free flow of paint over a double page spread if desired.

An extra bonus for me is that there is no compromise in the amount of paper. The sketchbook has 52 pages and its rounded corners makes it easy to fit into a small sketching bag without it becoming bent or creased. My favourite size for taking out and about is 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

If you have not yet discovered the Stillman & Birn range they produce a variety of sizes, weights of paper, textures and even colour. Enough for whatever style of sketching you enjoy.

In Britain, they are available from Jackson's Art supplies or you can go onto www.stillmanandbirn.com

Next, I'm going to try out the spiral-bound version...

All set for Summer!

So now it is officially British Summer Time (other countries presumably have to wait a while before Spring is over ) I am all kitted out with paper, sketchbooks and fresh tubes of pigment and ready to hit if not the streets, then the gardens and quiet corners of the Cotswolds and beyond

I have various set-ups from this pocket sketchbook and palette

when I want to keep things as simple and lightweight as possible,through a medium-size 5.5x8.5" sketchbook or 7x10" watercolour block and a medium size palette with a larger mixing area for when I have longer to sketch, and then my larger bag containing 8x12" sketchbooks and 9x12" or 12x16" watercolour blocks when there is some serious painting to be done..

Occasionally I will add an easel to this larger set-up, but only if I know I am going to stay put for a reasonable amount of time. There is no point in taking so many materials that you end up staggering from one place to another in search of something to paint and then being too exhausted to do anything!

I wish you all a happy summer of sketching in whichever part of the world you are!

A sketch a day keeps boredom away

  Retired ? Looking for something to do which doesn't require too much physical activity or loads of equipment, can be done inside or out, on one's own or with others ? I truly believe there are great advantages to be had in taking up the noble practise of sketching.

Equipment is minimal. A piece of paper and a pencil is all you need to get started. You may want to upgrade to a notebook and a biro, and one day, who knows - a fibre-tip pen !

You can begin making marks sitting in the comfort of a chair or even lying in bed, so not a lot of effort is required in getting started, and it needn't take up a lot of time at first.

How to get started ? Easy, sketch whatever you see. It may be something as simple as an apple, or a jar of marmalade on the kitchen table, a cup of coffee by your side. How about your library book or the television clicker ? Keep it simple at first, don't be too ambitious. Go at your own pace and slowly increase the number of objects in your sketch. Be inquisitive and a whole new world will open up for you.


Whatever you decide to sketch, do it for yourself. Sketch whatever interests you whether it is flowers in a vase, flowers in your garden, a plate of cakes or a dish of fruit. Your first attempts are bound to be a bit wobbly, but then nobody played a violin concerto straight off or scored a hole in one the first time they picked up a golf club.

 

You will soon find that it becomes addictive and you will want to keep your sketches together, so it makes sense to keep a notebook. If you are only using dry media, that is a pencil or pen, then you won't need to worry about the thickness or the absorbency of the paper. Later you may wish to go ahead and purchase an Artist's sketchbook. These are many and varied and come in sizes from about 3 x 5 inches upwards. We all have our natural drawing size in the same way we each have a natural size of handwriting so choose a sketchbook which feels comfortable to you.

 

As you become more proficient, so you will lose your inhibitions and maybe feel confident in taking your sketchbook for a walk, the way some people take dogs. Find a secluded spot and start scratching. No one need know. A sketchbook and pencil can easily be concealed in a pocket. 

 

Once you have conquered that, there will be no stopping you. Anything and everything will become fair game to your pencil ! Though please be aware that in public places some people do not enjoy being stared at, so do respect their privacy !

 

If you are sociable, persuade a friend to take up sketching too. You can arrange to meet every so often (perhaps over tea and cakes ?) and compare your progress, or you may decide to sketch together.

 

Make sketching a habit - it is not life threatening.

It keeps the brain active (sketching is all about observation).

Above all it is FUN.

 

START TODAY !

Sketchbooks

 

Taking the plunge

 

There is nothing so terrifying as the first page of a new sketchbook. Its blankness stares back at you unblinking. Daring you to make your first mark. Willing you to make an error the moment your pen or pencil touches the paper.

 

For this reason I know of artists who deliberately ignore the first page, turning it over, thus feeling they have succeeded in out manoeuvring the book by starting on the next page !

 

I understand exactly how they feel. At one stage I always started at the back and worked my way forward. Hoping that by the time I reached the front I might have something worth looking at..

 

Wherever you start, a blank page can be daunting, and the best way I have found to overcome this feeling is simply to make a mark.

 

ANY mark

 

ANYWHERE

 

It doesn't have to be large. It can be a line. It can be a dot. It can be incorporated into whatever is going to be on that page or it can stand alone.

 

It doesn't matter. The fact is, you have done SOMETHING and the page isn't pristine any more. It cannot harm you.

 

Part of our trouble I believe is the feeling that our sketch needs to be a seeringly honest, painstakingly precise drawing, with every line immaculately placed at the first attempt. Nothing else will do.

Sadly, few of us have that ability, although with time and constant practice, our abilities will improve.

 

Sketchbooks are an artist's diary. What goes on between its covers is between the artist and the sketchbook. You don't have to show it to anyone, although it's always nice to share when things go right ! Ultimately, whatever you put in your sketchbook should be fun.

 Enjoy it.

 Don't give in to the tyranny of the blank page !

What to do on a dull day

A brand new sketchbook arrived at the weekend. A Stillman and Birn Beta series 5.5 x 8.5 ins with 270gsm cold press paper, which I have been trying to find for some time but the suppliers always seem to be out of stock..

Stillman & Birn are an American company and their range of sketchbooks have recently taken the art world by storm. So I thought I'd try one.

A little pricy at 12.00 pounds sterling but not the most expensive by any means. The big attraction for me is the hardbound portrait format which opens flat, and I look forward to sketching a range of subject matter in it.

I do like a sketchbook with watercolour paper rather than cartridge, although the better quality cartridge takes a watercolour wash perfectly well.

At 270 gsm, the paper is a good thickness (cartridge is usually about 150gsm by comparison) if a little on the hard side to be ideal for me.

However I have only tried one page so far and really it seems silly to be quite so picky. I think the advantages will be enormous as the physical size of the book and the fact that it doesn't have a huge dip in the middle far outweigh any other petty grievance.

Full marks to the manufacturers for filling the gap in the market and providing an excellent product in the format and size that makes so much sense.

Check out www.stillmanandbirn.com for their range of  premium sketchbooks for dry and wet media, watercolours and inks.

Yorkshire continued...

 

Scarborough Lighthouse

 

Another sketchbook page from our recent trip north. Luckily the seagulls weren't interested in mugging us for our fish and chips !

 

The sketchbook is an ordinary Daler Rowney A4 cartridge paper. It doesn't like too much water, but then I tend not to use too much anyway.

Garden planter

 

Garden planter

Moleskine watercolour sketchbook page

8.25 x 11.50 inches

 

Sometimes it's good to just paint something for yourself without worrying about how much detail you put in or leave out. Another words to do something just for FUN. Sketchbooks are a great place to do this as well as trying out new ideas or techniques. They are also good if you don't have a lot of time at your disposal

April 30

 

April 30

 

Yay! Made it to the end of the month!

 I love teapots don't you? Something about them that makes them so appealing from any angle. They all seem to have their own little personalities ( or maybe I'm just losing it?)

 

Well, it's been an interesting and enjoyable 30 days. I found the biggest challenge was the smallness of the sketchbook, but it just goes to show that size doesn't really matter!  I am looking forward to having a little more space to be creative in the next one - and not having to do something every day. Although once you get the habit...

 

Hopefully, there will be more sketchbook blogs as well as some other stuff such as...

 

 

April

7.25 x 11.25 inches

watercolour on Saunders Waterford Cold Press paper

 

The frothiness of the blossom has been wonderful this year and has somehow managed to stay on the trees longer than usual despite the wind. It's been lovely to paint it.